A/N: This is my first time posting TDKR fanfiction (I usually just write it for myself), so please, don't completely tear me to pieces.

Rating: M for violence, language, and sexual content.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Batman or any characters of the franchise. I just own Vera, the plot of this story, and other original characters.

That being said, I hope you enjoy Chapter One.

My father flaunted Bane around closed doors like a prized possession. Letting him and his mercenaries basically live at our home, camping out by groups in the guest bedrooms, lounging in the living room at all hours of the day, eating all of our food. It's hard to live under the same roof and not be aware of it. But it's very possible to ignore it, something I've been doing since my father began to associate with Bane.

But one night, I couldn't avoid it.

It was impossible.

Watching Bane and my father argue, the sudden moment when he wrapped his hands around my father's head, the haunting sound of his neck cracking, his final cry before his lifeless body hit the floor.

In that moment, distant memories of him and I as father and daughter flashed throughout my mind. Us playing hide and seek in the park, getting ice cream afterwards, not telling my mother so we could get another dessert after dinner. Little fragments of my childhood that were buried away under years of lies, disappointment, betrayal… Memories that I didn't think existed anymore all came crashing back into my mind.

In that moment, there was sadness.

There was anger.

And there was regret.

But only for a few seconds, for fear overcame me when I finally took notice of that masked monster looking in my direction.

Staring directly at me.

I've never run so fast in my life. But I wasn't quick enough.

Bane had me by my hair within seconds, his fingers roughly scraping my scalp as he dragged me back to my father's study. He threw me on the floor as if I were ragdoll. Dropped me right next to my father's dead body.

"Vera, isn't it?" Hearing him say my name sent goosebumps throughout my body. He sounded so…unnatural. He was unnatural. Inhuman.

I just stared at him; I had so many emotions, but at that moment fear overpowered all of them. I wanted to feel sadness over my father's death. I wanted to feel anger towards Bane. I wanted to feel…regret because of me and my father's strained relationship. But I only felt fear. Fear of the monster before me.

"Its very rude to stare, Vera."

"H-how do you know my name?" I stammer out, still looking at him with wide eyes. It didn't occur to me then that my father might have told him my name, but why? What did I have to do with their business?

When he didn't answer, I took it upon myself to speak again.

"W-why did you kill my father?" I began. I had no idea why I was suddenly feeling so brave; was I asking to die? "What did he ever do to you?!"

I should've shut my mouth. The way he stood over me, so cold and menacing…any sane person, any smart person, any person who wanted to live would've shut their mouth. But I didn't. I kept on rambling. The fear was gone.

I must've wanted to die.

"Why are you and your fucking gang here in the first place? It's bad enough that you're terrorizing Gotham, but invading me and my father's personal space?! Go back to the fucking sewers where you and your stupid gangbangers belong-"

That's when everything went black.

000

Blood. The sickeningly steel taste of blood filled my nostrils to the point of nausea. My blood; it was my blood. The gooey crimson liquid poured like a waterfall from my mouth. My blurred sight was set on the cool stone of the floor; I was lying on it, sprawled across it like a…ragdoll.

That's when everything hit me.

Bane.

He killed my father…killed him in front of me.

He saw me. I ran. He caught me.

He…

I wiped away the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand as I struggled to my feet, eyes darting madly at my surroundings. A concrete room...absolutely bare minus a single gated window towards the back. Too small to climb through even if it wasn't blocked. And a large metal door in front of me; locked from the outside. I was trapped.

I definitely wasn't at home anymore. I wasn't in my father's office…next to his lifeless body. I felt a lump in my throat. He was actually dead. Gone forever. Murdered. I didn't have the best relationship with him…there was hardly anything between us to call a connection, he was so wrapped up in his own business and I was too busy being a teenage girl. Typical.

But even if we did have that ideal father-daughter relationship, he'd still be dead. My father was a greedy bastard who used any method to climb to the top…even dealing with terrorists.

How could he be so fucking stupid?

The sound of the metal door creaking open nearly gave me a heart attack, but I quickly composed myself. I stood ready, fists slightly raised as if I was actually going to fight someone. But as soon as he walked in, I found myself scrambling away until my back was pressed against the cool concrete wall.

"I have to say, I rather enjoyed you fearless, Vera."

I didn't say a word.

He stood where I was before he walked in, eyes examining the small square room as I once did. Two of his mercenaries stood outside of the room. I kept my eyes to the floor the entire time.

"But that fearlessness is also what got your father killed," I shut my eyes, trying to block out his voice. "Questioning my authority…what an absurd thing to do."

I could hear him walking towards me, his heavy footsteps eerily on pace with how hard my heart was beating. Then there was only the throbbing sound of my heart slamming against my chest. No more footsteps.

I made the mistake of opening my eyes.

He towered over me like a god. How could a person be so intimidating? But he wasn't a person…no, he was a monster. A masked monster.

"Pl-please, just let me go…I didn't do anything wrong."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Vera."

"Why? Why punish me for my father's stupidity? Just let me go!"

"Even if I did, it wouldn't matter."

"What do you mean?"

"The fire is rising, Vera. There's no hope for Gotham."

"Wh-what? What are you talking about? Just leave Gotham alone!"

"It's much too late for that."

I clenched my fists, that same anger from before spreading throughout my body. That same idiotic anger that put me here in the first place.

"Just let me go! I don't give a fuck about the fire! I just want-"

He had his hand around my neck in an instant, his grip tightening by the second. It was impossible to even attempt to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut; hoping, wishing, praying that this was all a dream. But as soon as I felt him lifting me off my feet…I knew it was no use. I was going to die the same death as my father. The fabric of my shirt ripped against the concrete as he raised me higher to the ceiling, scraping my back so bad that I knew I was bleeding. I gasped unsuccessfully for air, struggling to hold on to what little life I had left.

"Pl-please…" I managed to choke out. "Please…"

"You beg just like him."

I opened my eyes when he said that, glaring at him with all the hate I could muster up in such a weak state. He was taunting me...mocking me because we both knew I didn't stand a chance against him. He stared right back at me, his eyes bright with amusement.

The asshole.

"You truly are Daggett's daughter."